Chapter 546: Skillful and devoted

Once Noor left, Naira felt her heart in her stomach. Noor had looked like a savior to her but she was gone.

Forcing herself to face Arsh, she realized Arsh was never close to them and the distance between them was too huge which looked too hard to cover. She wanted to run but her eyes roamed his room uneasily until it fell on the ceiling. 

Remembering the chandelier was over the bed at a low height, instinctively she raised her head to know what was up there. She gasped looking at the outline of the world map on the ceiling against the black background.

It was very beautiful and she noticed seven dots of LED light flickered on. It took her a few seconds to realize they were the places where Arsh visited from the age of eighteen. He had the habit of visiting a new country yearly once.

She and Ivan had joined him a few times, Arna had only joined them once and Noor had gone each time with him as she hardly went out of the city.

While her eyes roamed over it, suddenly her hands flew over her lips and stared at Arsh whose face turned darker as the rainy clouds. She ran out of the room and eventually the mansion.

…

After Naira left, Arsh was back to his lazy home look and sat with his family chatting and laughing occasionally hearing the girl giggle with all and seeing her flush when Rooney was teasing her.

To be fact, all were able to get over Arna's sudden departure because of Noor. She was initially sad to see the house was always depressing. So she was trying to do something to make them happy but all used to laugh at her for trying something she never knew. 

She had even fed them burnt muffins with a smile of anticipation. All tried to keep up as 'Muffins are good.' to make her happy until Rooney had run into powder room puked his stomach out. 

Aria asked Noor and Arsh after dinner, "Where are you two planning this year's vacation?"

Rian continued right after her words, "I and Little Devil are planning to join you two with our 'other part.' Hope it's alright with you guys."

Roxy pinched his lap for hearing 'other parts' for her and Alan. Rian cried out in pain causing all to chuckle. Noor giggled looking at them and Arsh responded, "I always asked you two, Little Dad. You never listened to me."

Rooney was chuckling looking at Alan who planned to take his wife out but it became a family trip. Alan thought he shouldn't let his wife run behind them and have a different itinerary in the same country.

Noor continued after Arsh, "We were planning to go country G. I think we should plan somewhere where none of us visited." She looked at Arsh for his opinion.

However Rian snorted, "Name a country, I bet this crazy couple would have definitely visited there."

Aria chuckled leaning on Alan who warmly wrapped his arm around his wife's shoulders. She commented hearing 'bet', "Beauty will lose his money again to Mum." She whispered to her husband.

Rooney and Amelia quickly jumped in, "Dad, a ten thousand bet?"

"Nope, a hundred thousand?" Amelia was excited.

Rowan: "..."

Rian hesitated but didn't have the mood to let down the excitement. Before he could accept, a sweet voice, "May I bet too?"

Aria nodded as she added softly, "Go ahead, let us know."

"How about Uncle Rian sponsoring our vacation if he loses?" She probed, with little hesitation thinking they might not like her bet.

Rian: "..."

However, excluding Rowan, Arsh, and Alan, all stood up and high-fived her with bright smiles.

"You little rascal, you want me to go bankrupt, don't you?" Rian faked his anger and another round of laughter sounded.

"Noor, we will go with your bet too," Rooney said looking at his father pitifully.

"Me too…" Amelia and Roxy added in unison leaving Rian speechless who wanted to confirm he has enough balance in his account.

"Fine, you guys have only one chance and no discussion." He made his rules forgetting Arsh was sitting right there in complete silence.

Others didn't bother to comment and turned to Arsh. Rooney asked on behalf of all, "Bro, come on, tell us where Big Mom and Dad never visited."

Flustered, Rian hurriedly added, "NO NO NO." He chanted completely aware Aria must have narrated all their trip details to Arsh. "Arsh didn't bet so he isn't allowed to guess. Definitely not."

Arsh had a provoking smile at Rian and Noor giggled, "I know a place or two."

Rian squinted his eyes at Arsh who sat as if he had no hand in it. Roxy asked before Rian added more rules of his, "Noor, tell us."

"Don't worry, Dad won't do anything to you." Rooney poked her hand seeing her looking at Rian.

Noor softly responded, "It's country Alaska. Since it's a very cold country, Uncle Alan never took Aunt Aria over there."

Rian's jaw dropped but he glared at Arsh who behaved dumb and deaf while Aria burst into a peal of laughter as she nodded, "Noor is right. "

Roxy teased, "Noor knows a lot about Arrie."

Rooney added dramatically, "I am thinking who told her all these."

Noor innocently blinked and pointed at Arsh without understanding What's there to tease her in that. "He told me when we were choosing a place to go."

Excluding Alan and Arsh, all bit their lips and nodded to her response like obedient pets of her. The harmless kitten is too naive, they should let her claws grow sharp so they stopped teasing her. All the while Arsh sat like the matters doesn't concern him.

After a few more minutes, all decided Rian would spend for thr trip making him cry invisible tears. All bid Noor who drove her car to the wood mansion.

Sitting on the bench on the lawn for fresh air, Aria chuckled to herself causing Alan to turn to her. "What's making you so happy?" His finger brushed her soft cheek.

Aria smiled as she spoke about Alan and Arsh, "You chose me when you had no idea about love and marriage. I think Arsh too chose Noor from the beginning when she started coming here to learn."

Coiling his hand around her waist, he pulled her to his arms and she leaned her head above his chest. Alan shook his head to her words, "He chose to teach her because he didn't want her to escape his net."

Aria hissed playfully looking at him, "Your son is skillful." Alan hummed and added, "Your son is devoted." and she flirted winking her eye, "Just like you."

Arsh stood by the dark glass wall holding his coffee cup from his 'Game room', "Even if I have to break a promise, I will bring Snow back to you, Mom." He uttered looking at his parents enjoying the night breeze without knowing Noor was in trouble.